Electric train



Aug. 26, 1941. F. A. DRAKE 2,254,063

ELECTRIC TRAIN Filed, April '22, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7: gNvENToRg v RNEYS Aug. 26, 1941. F. A. DRAKE- 2,254;063

ELECTRIC TRAIN Filed April 22, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z 94 a g 7 3 i 2 4 f I Z2970? I Z z INVENT% RNEYS BY JWWO 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVEgTOR MY ORNEYS F. A. DRAKE ELECTRIC TRAIN Filed April 22, 1939 v Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC TRAIN Frederick Alexander Drake, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April 22, 1939, Serial No. 269,320

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in electric trains and more particularly in mail cars and associated mechanism for use with miniature or toy electric-train systems.

'Itis the principal object of the invention to provide bag pickup mechanism of an automatic character and of great reliability and simplicity of action, together, if desired, with bag ejecting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

particularly in conjunction with bag pickup or similar means, door operating mechanism simulating actual operation.

With these and other objects which will appear in the following full description in mind, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts and details of construction which will first be fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

'Fig. 1 is a plan view pa'rtly'broken away of a mail car' embodying the invention in a preferred form, together with the' associated bag holder and a portion of track section used therewith, and showing the mechanism with the parts in position to pick up a mail bag;

Fig. 2. Ba side elevation of the device of Fig. 1 partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in their normal position, when not about to pick up :a mail bag;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device of Fig. l-on anenlarged scale and with parts removed to show the operation of the mail bag pickup;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the mail bag shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram showmg the electrical circuits employed;

Fig. 7 is a plan vi'ewsimilar to Fig. 1 but showing theinvention embodied in another preferred form; l I

a Fig. 8 is a vertical section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the body of 'the' car shown in Fig. 7 and partly broken away; Figs.'10 and 11 are vertical cross sections taken on. the lines l0l0 and lI-ll respectively of Fig. 9; and

a Fig. 12 is a detailed cross section taken on the line l2--l2 ofFig; 8.

"Referring now to Figs; 1 to 6 inclusive, the invention is illustrated, "by way of example, as

a lied to a track generallyof-a usual'type and M V c i nprising rails 'I' and metallicities 2, together 55 and 2; opens the: door In and holds it open so tionalthird rails 6 and 1, these being insulated from the remainderof the track in the embodiment shown by forming the cross bars 5 of non-conducting material. Rail 6 which serves to control actuation of the door opening mechanism, later to be described, extends beyond rail 7 in both directions, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, for the purpose of actuating this mechanism prior to the actuation of the bag pickup mech-. anism controlled similarly by the rail 1. The mail car 8 is of conventional type, as shown, and provided with any of the usual coupling mechanisms (not shown). On oneside, as shown in vFigs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the wall 9 of the car is provided with a sliding door Ill moving in slideways I l and preferably positioned toward the rear end of the car, as shown.

The mechanism controlling the operation of slidingdoor It is actuated by a magnet [2, one side of the winding of which is grounded at l3 to the-wheels 14 of the car, as shown in Fig. 6,

vided and is connected with door II] by a link 20; attached toa post 2| thereon, and slidably carried in'a block 22 on the car wall ID, by a second link 23 pivotally connected to the end of link 20 at 24 and pivotally connected to an arm 26 of a bell'crank 25, journaled in frame H, the other arm 27 of which is connected to the armature l6 by a stirrup 28'. As will be readily understood, when magnet I2 is unenergized, door 10 will be closed by the spring l9, acting througharmature l6, stirrup 28, bell crank ZB-and links 23 and 26. magnet 12-, however," pulling down' armature l6 against spring [9 to the position shown in Figs.

Energization' of r long as current continues to pass through the winding of magnet I2.

A similar magnet 29 is provided for controlling the bag pickup mechanism and its winding is connected across a ground at 39 and a shoe 31 positioned for contact with rail 1 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, an armature 32 journaled at 33 in a frame 34 and biased upwardly by a spring 35 is provided for magnet 29, these parts being generally similar to those provided in the case of the front magnet 12. Armature 32 is connected by a stirrup St to a crank 31 journaled at 38 in the frame 34 and bearing a mail bag hook 39, as shown. Energization of magnet 29 through this mechanism rotates shaft 31 extending or protracting hook 39 through the doorway as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. When current is not passing through magnet 29, however, spring 35 serves to return the parts to the position of Fig. 3.

A mail bag support as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and is provided and comprises an upright it supported on a base M which may be fastened to a tie as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, or mounted separately if desired. A mail bag 42, made of w material simulating cloth and of hour-glass or dumb-bell shape, as shown, is provided and furnished with loops 43 at its ends. The mail bag, so constructed, is supported by a pair of pins 4:1 extending in the direction of movement of the car and carried on upper and lower members, 45 and 46 respectively, fastened to upright 49 by hinges 41 and adjustable as to height by screws 48 and 49. The upper member 45 may be provided with a counterweight 50 to regulate the tension upon bag 42 with the parts in the position of Fig. 4. With the bag in such position and a mail car approaching the rails 6 and 1 with the parts in condition of Fig. 3, the pickup is accomplished in the following manner: When the shoe reaches rail 6, magnet I2 is energized, opening and holding open the door 19. Shortly thereafter, shoe 3! comes in contact with rail 1, energizing magnet 29 and extending hook 39 through the now open doorway, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. As the hook passes support 9 it engages the neck of bag 42, slipping loops 43 off pins 44 and thus removing the bag from its support. Upon shoe 3| passing off rail 1 magnet 29 is deenergized and spring retracts hook 39, returning it to the position of Fig. 3 and discharging the mail bag 42 onto the floor of the car. Immediately thereafter shoe 15 passes ofi rail 6, deenergizing magnet 12 and thus closing the door Ill, restoring all parts to the condition of Fig. 3, but with themail bag inside the car instead of being carried on the standard 40. Upon removal of the bag 42, parts 45 and 46 drop with their own weight to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

An important feature of the present invention is the construction and arrangement of hook 39 which comprises an arm portion 5| extending approximately .at right angles to shaft 31, a second arm portion 52 at an acute angle to the arm portion 5| and a bent portion 53 forming the hook per se. The arm portion 5| permits shaft 31 to bev disposed at a relatively high level providing maximum vertical clearance for the hook 39 .while the angle of disposition of thearm 52 as well as of the extreme outer end of the hook itself disposes the bent portion 53 when the hook is, inextended position approximately parallel to the direction of motion of the car in plan and extending upwardly when viewed in elevation so as to ensure proper pickup of bag 42 and retention thereof until the hook is retracted. Upon retraction of the hook to the position of Fig. 3 this arrangement, however, disposes the hook portion per se, 53, in a slanting position opening downwardly as shown, and ensuring discharge of the bag into the car so that the hook is free to make another pickup without removing this bag.

The mail car, bag holder and track section according to the present invention may be readily incorporated in existing systems, the circuit connections therefor being shown in Fig. 6. In this figure, the usual rails l and 4 are shown connected to the secondary 54 of a transformer 55 through a switch 56 in the usual manner. Rails 6 and 1, which may be cross connected by a conductor 51 as indicated, are connected through a wire 58 and switch 59 to a secondary winding 54 through switch 56. No ground connection additional to that provided in the car itself through the rails I is required. In Fig. 6 the electrical parts within the car are indicated schematically in projection opposite the rails I, 2, 6 and 1 and the mode of operation of magnets l2 and 29 in different possible positions of the car relative to the rails will be immediately apparent.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 12, means is provided for operating the car door and pickup hook from a single rail 1, the rail 6 being omitted. The construction of the car generally, the remaining rails and the bag holding standard are the same as in the embodiment previously described and these parts are identified by corresponding reference numerals. A door operating magnet 99 and hook operating magnet Bl are provided, these being connected however to a single shoe 3! so as to be simultaneously energized by rail 1.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 9, magnet 69 is provided with an armature 62 journaled in a frame 53 at 64, biased upwardly by a spring 65 and connected through a stirrup 66 to an arm 11 fixed to shaft 18 rotatably carried in frame 63. Shaft 18 carries an arm 19 connected through a link to the door operating link 20. The operation of these parts is the same as in the embodiment previously described and requires no further description.

Magnet 6| is provided with an armature 8|, biased upwardly by a spring 82 and journaled in a frame 83 at 84. The armature 8|, in turn,

is connected through a stirrup 85 to an arm -85, fixed to a hook operating shaft 81 rotatably supported in brackets 88. Mounted on this shaft are also the bag hook 89, a bag delivery operating arm and a control cam 9|, later described.

Means is provided in this embodiment for ejecting a bag, as well as for picking up one, and consists in a bag receiving compartment 92 positioned below hook 89 and opening toward door 19. Above this compartment is a shaft 93, rotatably supported in brackets 94, operated through arm 95 and. link '96 by arm 99 previously referred to, and carrying a bag ejecting arm 91. By means of this mechanism each operation of shaft 81 will eject any bag previously deposited in container 92 as well as picking up any bag carried on the standard 40.

'Means is provided in connection with shaft 18 for timing the operations of'the door control and. bag handling mechanisms and consists in an arm 98 carried on shaft 18 and connected through link 99 to arod I09 slidably mounted in'a support IIlI attached to a portion of frame. 63 previously referred to. Rod I99 is located with relation to cam 9I so as to be'clear of the same in an axial direction, as shown in Fig. '7, when armature 62 is down, but to extend beyond the. same when armature 62 is up and the parts in the position of Fig. 8. Cam 9| is set upon shaft. 81 so as to be above rod I99 as shown in Figs. 8 and 12 when armature 8I is up, but to extend across the path of movement of rod I09 when shaft 81 is rotated tothe position ofFig. '7 and the dotted lines in Fig. 10.

In operation, when shoe 3I makes contact with track 7, magnets 69 and EI are energized simultaneously. Armature 62 is accordingly pulled down, opening door I 9 through shaft 18 and associated mechanism. Shaft 87 is, however, preventedfrom operating by cam 9I encountering the end of" rod I99 until the stroke of rod I is completed to a point where its end passes beyond cam 9!, as shown in Fig. 7. At this time, shaft Bl is released and rotates to extend hook 89 to the position of Fig. 7, door I 0 now being open, and at the same time shaft 93 turns, discharging any bag which may be in container 92.

Upon shoe 3I passing off rail I, magnets 69 and 6| are deenergized, and spring 82 returns arm 97 and hook 89 to the full line position of Fig. 10, in which a bag upon hook 89 will drop off into container 92. The door I9, however, is prevented from closing until sufficient time has been allowed for completion of the movement of hook 89 into the car by cam 9i which prevents rod I99 from moving more than a small distance, until shaft 81 has turned through a sufficient angle. Upon movement of shaft 8? to bring hook 89 inside the car, cam 9i clears rod I99, and spring 65 lifts armature 62, closing door III through shaft 18 and associated mechanism.

An important feature shown in this construction but applicable also to the circuit arrangement of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 is the construction of the hook 89 and the angle of disposition of the shaft 81. As appears in Figs. 7 and 8, shaft 31 is substantially horizontal but set at an angle of 10 to 15 in the horizontal plane from the axis of the car. To facilitate operation of the magnets 69 and BI and their associated mechanism, these parts are also set at corresponding angles, as shown, although this disposition, as is apparent, is not essential. With the shaft 81 thus angularly disposed, the hook 89 is constructed similarly to the hook 39 of Figs. 1 to 6 with corresponding bends. It now becomes possible, however, by making the angle 0 shown. in Fig. 7 equal to the complement of the angle between shaft 81 and the longitudinal axis of the car to dispose the hook 89 (or, the inward leg of its V-shaped outer portion) parallel to the axis of the car in plan so as to ensure pickup of the bag 42 while having it open downwardly by a corresponding angle when rotated into the position of Fig. 8 for discharge of the bag into container 92. The same effect may be achieved by setting shaft 81 at an angle in the vertical plane (but parallel when viewed in plan to the longitudinal axis of the car) or at an angle in both plan and elevation, the hook (or, the inward leg of its V-shaped outer portion) being disposed so as to be parallel to the direction of motion of the car in plan, when extended. Such setting, however, does not lend itself quite so readily to the arrangement of shaft'B'I and associated parts so as to be'clear of the'adjacent door.

In the actual construction of Figs. 7 to 12 the angle 0 is made slightly smaller than the complement of the angle which shaft 8'! forms with the longitudinal axis of the car, the slight angularity in the position of Fig. '7 being permissible without danger of missing the bag pickup and increasing the angle between the hook 89 and the horizontal in the position of Fig. 8 to facilitate dropping of the bag.

In both constructions shown, an accurate simulation of operating conditions is provided. For example, while the bag pickup hook and bag support may readily be so related as invariably to operate successfully, it is also possible to arrangethe angle of the pickup hook or the position of the bag supporting members so as to have the bag pickup fail occasionally, and with any desired frequency. This result is achieved by utilizing the natural rocking of the car, which permits the parts to be set so that the pickup will be made 'or not, depending on the angle of tilt of the car within narrow limits.

The circuit diagram of Fig. 6 should be understood as merely illustrative, as the invention may readily be applied to kick-switch control systems of known type, the only essential being that current be provided for energizing the actuating magnets described at desired locations.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric train system and in combination a car, a door in said car, door-operating means within said car for opening and closing said door, a track, a bag support adjacent said track, bag pickup means within said car, bag pickup operating means Within said car for extending said pickup means through said door to receive a bag held upon said support and for retracting said pickup means to discharge a bag received thereon into said car, and control means upon said track for energizing said door operating means and said bag pickup operating means to open said door and extend said bag pickup means therethrough at a point in advance of said bag support and thereafter to retract said bag pickup means and close said door at a point behind said bag support, the said door operating means and bag pickup operating means comprising electromagnetic means for opening said door and extending said bag pickup and spring-actuated means for closing said door and retracting said bag pickup.

2. In an electric train system and in combination a car, a door in said car, door-operating means within said car for opening and closing said door, a track, a bag support adjacent said track, bag pickup means within said car, bag pickup operating means within said car for extending said pickup means through said door to receive a bag held upon said support and for retracting said pickup means to discharge a bag received thereon into said car, and control means upon said track for energizing said door operating means and said bag pickup operating means to open said door and extend said bag pickup means therethrough at a point in advance of said bag support and thereafter to retract said bag pickup means and close said door at a point behind said bag support, the said door operating and pickup operating means comprising electromagnetic means including circuits for energizing the same terminating in shoes upon said car and said track including a conducting rail positioned for contact with the shoe in circuit with said door operating means and extending from a point in advance of said bag support to a point behind said bag support and a second conducting rail positioned for contact with the other of said shoes and extending between points in advance of and behind said bag support and closer thereto than the ends of the first said conducting rail.

3. In an electric train system and in combination a car, a door in said car, door-operating means within said car for opening and closing said door, a track, a bag support adjacent said track, bag pickup means within said car, bag pickup operating means within said car for extending said pickup means through said door to receive a bag held upon said support and for retracting said pickup means to discharge a bag received thereon into said car, and control means upon said track for energizing said door operating means and said bag pickup operating means to open said door and extend said bag pickup means therethrough at a point in advance of said bag support and thereafter to retract said bag pickup means and close said door at a point behind said bag support, the said door operating and bag pickup operating means comprising electromagnetic means for opening said door and extending said pickup means and spring-actuated means for closing said door and retracting said bag pickup means and said control means comprising means for simultaneously energizing said electromagnetic means and said door operating means comprising a member moving therewith and said bag pickup operating means comprising a member moving therewith, said first member occupying a position when said door is closed to prevent movement of said second member and said second member occupying a position when said bag pickup means is extended, preventing movement of said first member.

4. In an electric train system and in combination a car, a door in said car, door-operating means within said car for opening and closing said door, a track, a bag support adjacent said track, bag pickup means within said car, bag pickup operating means within said car for extending said pickup means through said door to receive a bag held upon said support and for retracting said pickup means to discharge a bag received thereon into said car, control means upon said track for energizing said door operating means and said bag pickup operating means to open said door and extend said bag pickup means therethrough at a point in advance of said bag support and thereafter to retract said bag pickup means and close said door at a point behind said bag support, a bag receiving container mounted within the said car and opening towards said door, and a bag ejecting member movable in the said container, and means connecting the said bag ejecting member to the said bag pick-up operating means for actuation thereby.

F. ALEXANDER DRAKE. 

